Rough Sailing euthanized after fall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rough Sailing, who slipped and fell going into the first turn of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, had to be euthanized shortly after the race because of a broken shoulder, according to Hilary Pridham, assistant to trainer Mike Stidham. Pridham said three veterinarians had examined Rough Sailing when the horse was brought back to the barn housing Stidham’s horses on the Churchill backstretch, and all had determined through feeling the affected area that the shoulder had been badly fractured, and that there was no chance to save the horse.

Rough Sailing broke somewhat slowly in the Juvenile Turf, and was near the back of the field going into the turn when he suddenly went down. The broken shoulder may have led to the fall, but Rough Sailing may have slipped and fell, sustaining the fracture upon hitting the turf.

“The turf’s kind of soft, and the turns are tight,” said jockey Rosie Napravnik, who escaped injury.

Rough Sailing got up and ran down the backstretch before being caught before the far turn. The Mizzen Mast colt was owned by Jack Smith III Thoroughbreds.